The NFL hoped to improve player safety by introducing a new kickoff rule to limit the number of kick returns, but it has backfired so far.

This season, touchbacks on kickoffs are brought out to the 25-yard line, hoping to incentivize returners to take more knees in the end zone. However, many coaches have instead used the rule to their advantage, often kicking the ball high to around the 5-yard line. The coverage crashes down the field, and more often than not, returners are tackled before getting to the 25.

Kick returns are up

A report from Mark Maske of The Washington Post indicates that kick returns have increased by five percent this season compared to the first four weeks in 2015, while touchbacks are down by four percent.

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Don't ask the NFL to admit that it's been a failure, though. They've agreed to keep the rule in place for the duration of this season, and they're trying to save face, for now.

From Maske:

“It’s pretty close to where we thought it would be,” said one person familiar with the league’s thinking on the topic, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not comfortable commenting publicly on the NFL’s behalf. “I don’t know how it will turn out. I don’t know if it will have a negative impact. I don’t know if it will have a positive impact. I don’t know if it will have no impact. We’ll see. Let’s see what happens when the weather turns. That’s why we did it for one year.”